PARIS (May 17, 2025) – The legendary Peking to Paris Motor Challenge returns from May 17 to June 22, 2025, for its 9th edition, starting from the Great Wall of China. This 37-day adventure will take 55 international crews on a 14,988-kilometer journey, conquering Eurasia in the footsteps of the pioneers of 1907. A unique logistical and human challenge. Normally held every three years, the 2025 edition immediately follows the 2024 edition due to delays caused by the pandemic. This double event represents a real challenge for the organizers, who have completely redesigned the route and its stages. The route will cross 11 countries: China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, and France. It will include 10 border crossings, six nights in tents, and numerous challenging areas, particularly in the Gobi Desert.

Prestigious crews and legendary vehicles

  • Christophe Bouchut, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Daytona, Spa, Nürburgring, and Dubai, is making his endurance rally debut aboard an ex-factory Peugeot 504 Coupé
  • Prince Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón, a Dakar veteran, will be his navigator.
  • San Marino’s Minister of Tourism, Federico Pedini Amati, will start in the smallest car in the rally’s history, a 1973 Fiat 500, flying the colors of the Republic of San Marino.
  • Tomas de Vargas Machuca, President of HERO-ERA, will complete the entire route solo in a 1926 Bentley, a historic first
  • Jonathan Turner, a 1997 veteran, returns with the 1929 Bentley he drove 28 years ago, alongside Nick English, a vintage pilot
  • John Caudwell, British entrepreneur and philanthropist, is participating for the first time with his brother Brian in a 1938 Chevrolet Fangio Master Coupe.

A Contrarian Adventure
“It’s not a race. It’s an endurance event where, above all, you have to go all the way, for yourself and for the car,” says Guy Woodcock, Competition Director at HERO-ERA. Pre-war cars make up nearly half of the field, including a 1917 American LaFrance Type 12 with a 14.5-liter engine and a 1920 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. The classic categories also feature unusual vehicles, such as a Volvo 220 Estate or legendary models like the Porsche 911 and Datsun 240Z.

An extraordinary human adventure
Beyond the mechanics, the event is above all an exceptional human adventure. For nearly six weeks, participants cross remote regions, share bivouacs, and overcome challenges together. Mutual support, adaptability, and camaraderie are essential pillars of the experience.

“Team spirit is fundamental. When things go wrong, it’s the other competitors who keep you going,” says Chris Elkins, course manager.